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The Advantages of Growing Auto Flowering Cannabis Plants Grow Report
With Stoney Tark
More home growers are choosing to work with autos than ever before, thanks to them being a low-maintenance cannabis plant, easy to grow, and a great starting point for beginners. In this article, I explain the advantages of planting autos indoors and outdoors and everything you should know.
Growing Autos Indoors and What to Consider
For those who only grow cannabis indoors, here is a list of all the things that will allow you to produce the best quality crop, and obtain excellent results and glistening high-grade buds.
Keep the Same Light Schedule
No lighting schedule is set in stone, however, if you switch your timer to either 18/6 or 20/4 from seed until harvest, then you will find autos will respond extremely well and will grow the biggest size possible and reward you with the most abundant yields.
Use Big Pots
To grow autos that will finish between 80-120 cm tall, and with a bushy growth structure, it is best to use pots that are 10 litres and above. Avoid using small-sized pots to promote the biggest and most prolific root zone, and eliminate the possibility of low-yielding autos.
Keep the Light Distance Close
The ideal distance to keep your HPS or LED grow light is around 40-50 cm from the top of the canopy. Doing so will provide the ideal amounts of intense lighting and P.A.R. levels. As the plants grow taller, be ready to lift the light higher, but aim to keep a consistent distance throughout and keep an eye on the temperature and humidity levels.
The Right Nutrients to Use
Autos will remain in a vegetative state for the first 28 days, then will automatically flower for the next 6-9 weeks, depending on the genetics. Simply feed the plants a nutrient made for the vegetative period for the first 4 weeks, then you can use the
nutrients created for flowering, combined with boosters.
The Best Floor Plan
If you want to achieve the greatest yields inside your grow space and make the most out of your electricity bills, then try planting 6–9 plants together in a Sea of Green. Doing so will produce an even canopy, allowing each plant to grow with uniform buds and give you the best returns.
Autos Are Great for Small Grow Spaces
If you do not have a large grow space and have converted a cupboard or wardrobe, then autos are perfectly suited for these scenarios. Autos are highly practical for small spaces or little grow tents, and you will not need to be concerned about an overwhelming stretching phase, as they typically stay medium height and keep relatively short and stocky.
Growing Autos Outdoors and What to Consider
When planting autos outside, there are a few variables to consider for you to achieve the best results possible. Below is a short list of what to know, giving you the utmost advantage.
Make Sure They Get Plenty of Sun
This is especially important during the first 4–5 weeks and will play a major role in growth structure, height, and yield capability. Autos can remain short once flowering if they do not get adequate amounts of direct sunlight.
Perpetual Harvests
The best time to plant autos outdoors will be from the end of April until early September. If the climate where you live is warm and sunny, you will be able to grow back-to-back harvests.
Autos Are Resilient and Easy to Work With
One of the best traits of working with autos outside is the fact they are hardy and tough plants capable of being resilient to all types of weather. Of course, warm and sunny conditions are best, however, you can still achieve impressive results outdoors in Northern Europe.
The Benefits of Growing AutoFlowering Cannabis Plants
Autos are well-suited for beginner growers.
• They do not require much maintenance.
• They are perfect for growers with limited height.
• Autos can be easily grown in a Sea of
Green setup.
• They can produce excellent results and top-quality flowers.
• Outdoors it is possible to grow multiple harvests per year.
• Autos keep a low profile and are easier to hide outside than photoperiods. Growers can choose from a wide variety of auto-flowering genetics
• Autos work well in both indoor and outdoor scenarios.
My Conclusion
As a beginner-level grower, autos are a superb way to learn about how cannabis plants grow. They are easy, straight forward and exceptionally practical. All you need to do is plant the seed in a large pot, set your timer to either 18 or 20 hours of light, and simply water with a nutrient solution and keep your grow light close. Be prepared to grow multiple auto-flowering strains at once, and see which varieties work best for you!
A feminized Amaretto Tarmac strain from Seed Stockers.
A field in Jamaica of small sized autos that will finish close to 50 cm tall by harvest time.
History Cannabis
By Olivier F
Soft Secrets: at the top of cannabis media for 40 years
The origins
Wernard Bruining founded the first coffeeshop in Holland, Mellow Yellow in 1972, even before their authorization in 1976. He then founded the first growshop in the world in the 1980’s, called Positronics. The store sold growing equipment but also seeds and clones. Soft Secrets was a Dutch language-only journal aimed at the Dutch customers of the Positronics Growshop (Growshops are now banned by the
Dutch governement since 2016 – ed.).
Between 1980 and 1985, Wernard was part of the “Green Team,” a group of Dutch growers who collaborated with American growers from California like Old Ed, Sam the Skunkman and Ed Rosenthal.
Wernard subscribed to a news service and shared articles about cannabis and coffeeshops in Soft Secets. He then hired an editor, Yolanda,
This year, Soft Secrets magazine celebrates its 40th anniversary. Soft Secrets was established in 1985 by Wernard Bruining, a cannabis pioneer in the Netherlands who founded the first coffeeshop and growshop. 40 years later, Soft Secrets has become one of the best international cannabis magazines, published in 8 languages, and as a multimedia platform.
who later became his wife. The newspaper was then printed in 200 or 300 copies.
“The next step was to create a cannabis journal containing newspaper clippings, but also articles written by our own journalists, to counterbalance the rubbish and nonsense written about cannabis. Yolanda began managing reporters and photographers, producing a better newspaper every month! » explained Wernard in an interview with Soft Secrets France in 2019.
The first issues of Soft Secrets, published well before the advent of the internet, are now difficult to find. A copy from 1994 was recently for sale on the Ebay site. In this issue dated April 1994 and sold for 2.50 guilders, we find different articles on coffeeshops, lifestyle and culture. One of them is entitled “A kilo per square meter? » by Wernard Bruining.
Wernard is an important figure in the history of cannabis. He continues his activities in the field of medical cannabis to this day and invented a device for making cannabis oil called the Cannalator.
At the end of the 90s the Soft Secrets newspaper was bought by the Discover Publisher press group which already published Highlife magazine and organized the Highlife Cup. The Dutch cannabis entrepreneur Boy Ramsahai (now the owner of Royal Queen Seeds among others), was the owner of Discover Publisher at the time. Ramsahai bought the title ‘Soft Secrets’ from Wernard Bruining for 2000 Guilders, which is now less than 1000 Euro’s.
At that time, the Netherlands was the only country in the world where cannabis was tolerated and where it was possible to buy and consume it in coffeeshops. Every year in November, Americans came to Amsterdam for the High Times Cannabis Cup, an event created in 1988 by High Times magazine, the American forerunner of Highlife and Soft Secrets.
The aim of Highlife, established in 1991, was to publish a Dutch cannabis magazine for coffeeshops. The magazine quickly became successful thanks to Dutch readers and advertisers in the industry finding a place where they could advertise.
Publishing a cannabis journal has not always been easy even in Holland. “Parliamentary questions were asked about Highlife and I had to appear in court regularly. » Boy Ramsahai explained to Highlife in 2011. In the 1990s, France led by Jacques Chirac put pressure on Holland to close coffeeshops.
The first edition of the famous Highlife Cup took place in 1994 and the cup still exists today. The objective was to organize a fairer cannabis cup with anonymous, numbered samples. Highlife organized the first cannabis expo, called the Highlife Fair, in 1997 in Amsterdam and later exported the formula succesfully to Barcelona, Prague and Bologna.
The 2000s
To launch the foreign language versions of Soft Secrets, Boy Ramsahai hired a freelance journalist and editor named Cliff Cremer, who pre-
Wernard Bruining, the founder of Soft Secrets and also the founder of the very first coffeeshop (Mellow Yellow) and growshop (Positronics) in the world, was also a pioneer in CBD use. Here he is at the GrowMed fair in Valencia, Spain in 2012.
viously was chief editor of Highlife Magazine. Cliff wanted to make Soft Secrets a magazine by growers, for growers”, while self-production of cannabis was booming in Europe. At the time, Moroccan hash, which dominated the market, was often of poor quality and many consumers decided to start growing it at home.
In the early 2000s, international editions of Soft Secrets were launched. Soft Secrets United Kingdom and Soft Secrets France were the first to see the light of day. The first issue in French
was published in 2002. It includes a report on the opening of the Smoker’s Museum in Paris, an interview with the famous cartoonist Gilbert Shelton, the creator of the Freak Brothers, by Michka and Tigrane.
Several international editions emerged in the
over the world. Conferences, cannabis cups, festivals and cannabis exhibitions have multiplied. In Europe, the Spannabis exhibition, organized each year in Barcelona, brings together 30,000 visitors with professionals from all over the world (The Dutch Highlife Fair was actually banned by the city council of Barcelona in favor of the Spanish Spannabis Fair in 2007).
Soft Secrets participated in all editions of the Expogrow festival which brought together concerts and a hemp fair in the Spanish Basque Country. In Spain, cannabis consumption is tolerated in cannabis social clubs (CSC).
Soft Secrets has been able to adapt to cannabis 2.0. Its exceptional longevity is perhaps explained by its ability to adapt to the new world of cannabis and its quality products.
2000s and the newspaper now publishes 9 editions (including Highlife magazine) in 8 languages. Soft Secrets is not a simple translation journal. Specialized journalists in each country write their own articles for every issue.
The newspaper quickly enjoyed success, notably thanks to several renowned international cannabis journalists such as Jorge Cervantes and Ed Rosenthal, nicknamed the cannabis
guru. It has today some of the best European grower writers available, like Stoney Tark from the UK and Mr. Jose from the Czech republic. Old hands Jorge Cervantes and Ed Rosenthal still write for Soft Secrets too.
At the time, many European readers learned how cultivate cannabis at home from Soft Secrets. The newspaper was then available in several languages in coffeeshops in Holland. Many people discovered it during their trips to Amsterdam and remained loyal readers.
At the time, the journal published grow reports and very specific advice for cultivation for certain strains. Ed Rosenthal and Jorge Cervantes
answer readers’ questions. Soft Secrets gives a voice to growers and activists.
Cannabis comics are published in the newspaper. We of course remember the superhero Ganjaman, drawn by Jim Stewart, who saved growers in distress.
In 2009, Discover Publisher, which publishes Highlife and Soft Secrets Magazine, was bought by Jeroen Bots from Boy Ramsahai, and today the daughter of Jeroen, Daisy Bots, is the new CEO since Jeroen Bots retired a few years ago.
Le cannabis 2.0
In the 2010s, the world of cannabis evolved a lot. The area that had remained strictly underground, was moving from the shadows to the light. In 2012, no country had yet considered the legalization of cannabis. Uruguay was the first to take the plunge. In June 2012, President José Mujica announced his intention to legalize cannabis for recreational use. In the United States, on November 6, 2012, a few months after José Mujica’s announcement, two states voted for legalization. In Colorado and Washington state, legal cannabis sales began in 2014. The country that imposed prohibition on the rest of the world has started to turn back the clock.
Things then accelerated. Today, recreational marijuana is legal in 24 states. Medical cannabis is legal in 39 out of 50 states. But it is still illegal at the federal level.
Canada was the first G7 country to fully legalize cannabis. Legal sales began on October 17, 2018. In Europe, some countries have partially legalized it. Luxembourg, Malta and Germany were the first to dare to legalize recreational cannabis despite pressure from neighboring countries, starting with France.
These legislative developments have profoundly transformed the world of cannabis. Many scientific studies are now carried out. Researchers are interested in cannabis components such as cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids. Countless studies on medical cannabis are published in scientific journals.
Cultivation techniques such as hydroponics, aeroponics or in vitro culture fascinate growers. New modes of consumption such as vaporization or dabbing have become popular. New extraction techniques such as BHO (butane extraction) and rosin (solvent-free extraction) or hash manufacturing such as Ice-o-lator developed in the 2010s.
Many cannabis events are now organized all
Soft Secrets is still the growers’ journal but the subjects covered have diversified. Articles on science, botany, breeding, extractions, medical cannabis, law, legalization, politics, lifestyle are now published in Soft Secrets.
Soft Secrets in 2025
So here we are, in 2025, and cannabis continues to gain ground even though it faces many obstacles. In 2022, Thailand was the first Asian country to legalize cannabis but its future re-
40 years old and still running....
mains uncertain. Several countries like Germany have decriminalized the possession of small quantities without fully legalizing the plant.
Cultivation and breeding techniques are constantly improving. Breeders and growers are now using Artificial Intelligence.
8 editions of Soft Secrets are published in 2025: International (UK), Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Czech Republic, Poland and South America. Highlife Magazine is published in the Netherlands. The Highlife Guide, the European guide for hemp and cannabis professionals, is published every year.
Soft Secrets also has a high quality website in 8 languages with correspondents in all countries. The newspaper is published every two months and the site allows you to follow cannabis news on a day-to-day basis. Soft Secrets recently released two growing video series, “The Perfect Grow,” in collaboration with Plagron and Royal Queen Seeds.
Happy birthday Soft Secrets! Let there be another 40 years!
The oldskool Soft Secrets, when it was just a local newspaper for clients of the Positronics Growshop in Amsterdam.
Cliff Cremer, the chief editor of Soft Secrets since 2000!
Soft Secrets not only organises the famous Dutch Highlife Cup, but did some Soft Secrets Cups in Prague and Barcelona too.
The very first French version of Soft Secrets came out in 2002.
Barney’s Farm strain story
Words & Pics: Green Born Identity – G.B.I.
SOUR DIESEL TIMELESS OLD SKOOL BRILLIANCE
When two oldschool cannabis strain titans come together, chances are good they melt into a new fascinating mega plant. That’s what happened for instance in the 1990s, when Super Skunk and Chemdawg had a liaison with one another, two varieties that counted among the hottest varieties back then growers and smokers could get. From this elitist genetic marriage, the 70% sativa dominant Sour Diesel strain resulted and set out to become a highly popular oldschool strain classic itself. Almost a matter of course that high-end seed bank Barney’s Farm in its strain repertoire also has got original Sour Diesel genetics which offer many top-notch qualities. For example an exceptionally multi-faceted aroma that combines sourly, earthy and gassy aspects with a good deal of sweetness into a real cannasseur flavour. But not only in the aroma department Sour Diesel impresses with superb quality, she’s an ace also when it comes to the effect: Fuelled by 20-24% THC, her flowers deliver a strong buzz in best sativa fashion - cerebral, uplifting and upbeat, making the user not too revved-up though, but providing a highly pleasant mental balance and placidity instead. Which makes Sour Diesel a good daytime weed, helping the user to increase his productivity and creativity, also being able to act as a social lubricant. Excellent grow characteristics complete the strain’s outstanding profile – it produces robust versatile plants that are capable of performing super well both indoors and outdoors. Under lights, plant heights of 100-120 cm are common. After a flowering period of 70-75 days, cultivators can potentially reap very ample yield rewards of up to 600-700 grams per sqm. Under natural light, Sour Diesel plants don’t grow taller than 200 cm in general, finishing in the second to third week of October. The yield dial gets turned up of course in this environment, even spectactularly - outdoor growers can get up to two kilos of dry buds off a plant!
After germination:
Vigorous uniform growth
The Doc is known to have a big heart for oldschool varieties, and Sour Diesel had been on his strain bucket list for quite some time already. Now it was about time that he personally got to know whether it still lives up to its legendary reputation, so he ordered a bag of seeds from Barney’s Farm. The two feminised Sour Diesel Seeds sown were no exception to the highly reliable 100% germ rate rule The Doc has always experienced with this seed bank. Following a very swift germination time of a bit less than three days, the two seedlings entered into the baby stage. After a week, they noticeably picked up speed and started to grow vigorously, with early lateral shoot formation. Three weeks after germination, when The Doc dialled them into flowering mode, they exhibited a bushy compact growth pattern beautiful to look at. Standing 29 and 31 cm tall, they also were pretty uniform.
Report
By Derrick Bergman/Gonzo Media
DUTCH COFFEESHOP PIONEER WAS INNOCENTLY IMPRISONED IN THAILAND FOR YEARS
It is one of the biggest scandals in the history of Dutch coffeeshops. Due to lies and incitement by the Dutch justice system, former coffeeshop owner Johan van Laarhoven was imprisoned in a Thai prison for more than five years under hellish conditions. Now that his prosecution in the Netherlands has ended, he can finally fight back and talk to the press.
Van Laarhoven opened his first coffeeshop in 1981. In the decades that followed, he built a small empire under the name The Grass Company, with four coffeeshops and a wholesale business in headshop products. In 2008, he moved to Thailand with his Thai wife Tukta and their two children, and three years later he sold The Grass Company.
In the same period, the Dutch judiciary started a major investigation into the company, with Van Laarhoven as the main suspect. When this yielded no results, the judiciary started sending requests for legal assistance to Thailand. After a coup by the Thai army in 2014, the judiciary urged the Thai junta by letter to start a criminal investigation against Johan van Laarhoven and his wife. That letter, full of false accusations, led to the arrest of the couple and a nightmare that is still not over. Van Laarhoven was ultimately imprisoned in Thailand for 5.5 years, his wife a little longer. Thanks to the efforts of family and activists, Johan was able to return to the Netherlands in early 2020. He remained imprisoned here for several more months and was finally released in August 2020.
In the four years since his release, Johan has never been able to talk to journalists, because there was still a criminal case against him, his
brother Frans and the current owner of the Grass Company coffeeshops. That case ended in December 2024 with a settlement of over 7.7 million Euro’s. In early January, Johan was
briefly in the Netherlands for the publication of his book, which has only been published in the Netherlands.
In recent years, Johan van Laarhoven has lived in various countries, but everywhere he goes he has problems with bank accounts or buying or renting accommodation. He does not want to stay in the Netherlands a day longer than necessary; he hates the country after everything he has been through. And he hates the ‘Policy of Tolerance’, in which cannabis sales are tolerated under strict conditions, but cultivation and wholesale are prohibited. Johan: ‘Because of this Tolerance Policy, I spent almost six years in a hell-hole prison as an innocent man. I’m not a fan anymore.’
Calmly Johan talks about the 66 months he spent in the notorious Khlong Prem prison in Bangkok. He was in a cell of 11 square meters with 14 men, violence was the order of the day. Johan always refused to work in prison and to be put in chains, no matter how fiercely the guards threatened him with voilence. ‘That was my way of remaining myself and still being able to do something.’
Certainly during the first few months in prison he considered committing suicide, but his fighting spirit and his family kept him going. It is all the more bitter that his family did not survive the drama in the end. ‘Tukta (his Thai wife – ed.) has a lot of psychological problems now. In the beginning she blamed me very much for everything that happened, so my relationship with her is completely broken. Because of that the children are also angry, they don’t understand what happened to them and they don’t want to talk to me anymore. I have been free for four years and my youngest children haven’t talked to me for four years. That is incredibly painful. I miss my children.’
About the consequences to his own health, he says: ‘Physically I’m fucked up, my body hurts, my head doesn’t work a hundred percent anymore, my memory isn’t that good anymore. And I sleep very badly, three, four hours a night. I get flashbacks, then I see someone hanging in jail again, or I see someone being murdered again.’
When the settlement proposal from the Justice Department was made, he had his back to the wall, Johan explains. He had to think of more people than himself: his brother, the owner and employees of the Grass Company
coffeeshops. If Johan didn’t agree, the Justice Department told his lawyer, they would “destroy him further”. ‘They said: “Then we’ll keep him in court for at least fifteen years, we’ll enforce the seizure of the assets he still has and we’ll make sure the coffeeshops are closed.” Well, what do you do then?’
Part of the settlement: Van Laarhoven is not allowed to take legal action against the police and the judiciary, people he wanted to hold personally liable. A civil case against the Dutch state is possible, and he filed it at the end of December 2024. When asked why, he answers: ‘I have a very strong sense of justice. The justice for my family, my relatives and myself, they ran over that with a bulldozer. I cannot accept this. I actually want to start a new life and forget this, but that will never work. I have to get my justice. I have no other choice. I want to settle the score, hold them responsible for what they have done.’
Johan in the infamous Thai Khlong Prem prison in Bangkok, where he spent almost 6 years
Johan van Laarhoven in 2016
Water Hash Strains
How to choose the most suitable strain
Not all marijuana strains are suitable for water hash extraction, many varieties that are great to smoke do not always give good results when washed.
In particular, WPFF extracts, made with fresh and frozen flowers, deserve greater attention. In fact, the still living resin behaves differently from its dried version which is much easier to work and collect.
When you decide to wash a new strain whose characteristics are unknown, such as yield and quality, you need to evaluate very carefully whether it is suitable for the purpose before making irreparable mistakes. Some varieties give such a low return that they do not justify the effort, running the risk of wasting entire crops. What are the characteristics to evaluate and the tests that can be performed to choose the most suitable strain?
RETURN PERCENTAGE
To be considered suitable for the production of water hash, a marijuana strain must provide a minimum return of 4%. The return percentage indicates the quantity of water hash obtained from a given batch of inflorescences and is easily calculated with the following formula:
(weight in grams of hash/weight in grams of marijuana) x100 = %
Example: (150 g hash/3200 g marijuana) x100 = 4.68%
The best varieties have a return that exceeds 5% up to 8% in the most incredible strains. Often the yield is also associated with a good quality of the final product. Strains with a yield that is around 3% can barely guarantee a return on investment compared to the value that the flowers would have had if they had been dried.
STRUCTURE OF GLANDULAR TRICHOMES
The highest quality water hash is made up exclusively of the heads of glandular trichomes, and cannabis plants have different types of them. Capitate-stalked trichomes are the ones that hashmakers are interested in; their shape is similar to that of a mushroom, characterized by a large head supported by a thin stalk. The head of glandular trichomes is the part that contains the majority of cannabinoids and terpenes. Trichomes that have a weak connection between the heads and stalks are perfect because the heads detach more easily. It is very important that the cuticle of glandular trichomes, a waxy layer that surrounds the head, is thick enough and resistant; trichomes that have a weak cuticle break easily during washing, releasing oils into the water and are not easy to wash at all. Observing the inflorescences with a microscope before harvesting them is very useful
for understanding which strains are best. The best resin shines like diamonds.
DENSITY OF GLANDULAR TRICHOMES
Plants that have the surface of the flowers completely covered by trichomes without leaving any space between one structure and another could be ideal for the production of water hash. Some plants are so dense with trichomes that they give them a whitish and apparently frosty appearance, in jargon marijuana flowers that have this characteristic are called frosty bud.
SMELL
It is very important to choose cannabis strains that have a very strong scent. The amount of terpenes present in the resin greatly influences the quality of a water hash. By smelling the plants you can evaluate which ones release the strongest smell and that you like the most.
FINGER TEST
This type of test is not 100% reliable but it provides useful information for choosing the ideal cannabis strain. Rub an inflorescence with your fingers to collect a little resin from the surface and evaluate its consistency. The best resin has a grainy consistency and does not get lost when touched, unlike the oilier ones that disappear quickly. Another test is to squeeze the resin between two fingers and observe how it reacts to their opening. A good resin elongates creating micro filaments between the two fingertips.
JAR TEST
The glass jar test is useful for getting an idea of the quantity and quality of the water hash that could come out. To perform the jar test you need about 30 grams of freshly harvested inflorescences, some ice cubes and a 500 milliliter glass jar. Here’s how to proceed:
1. Collect the marijuana and freeze it in the freezer
2. Wait at least 6 hours for the inflorescences to completely freeze
3. Fill the glass jar halfway up its volume
4. Add 4-5 ice cubes
5. Add the frozen inflorescences
1. Shake the contents for 10 minutes
2. Wait 30 minutes for the resin to settle on the bottom of the jar
Observing the resin collected at the bottom of the jar is a great help in deciding whether to wash an entire batch of marijuana. To get a more complete picture, you can perform a further test. Filter the contents of the jar with mini bubble bags, collect the resin from the bags and dry it to evaluate the result.
Without a shadow of a doubt, the most efficient method for evaluating a new strain is to perform the entire extraction process with small quantities of marijuana, a batch of about 500 grams is enough to obtain precise results.
Jar test
Individual glandular trichomes suspended in water
Resin deposited at the bottom of the jar
Water Hash Six Stars
How to make an extraction from samples
The quality of fresh frozen water hash cannabis extracts is classified according to a rating system that goes from one to six stars, with six stars representing the highest quality. Six-star extracts are a type of water hash composed almost entirely of the heads of glandular trichomes and when consumed with Dab they evaporate completely without leaving residues, that is, they are full melt. Six-star fresh frozen water hash represents the maximum expression of the organoleptic qualities and potency of a given strain of marijuana.
INTRODUCTION
To make a 6-stars water hash it is essential that the cannabis strain used is suitable for resin extractions. It is very important that the marijuana is of excellent quality, the best extractions come from plants grown with organic farming methods, such as living soil.
The place where the extraction is performed must have a maximum temperature of 16 ° C and a humidity rate that does not exceed 55%.
The best fresh frozen water hash is made by hand, without the aid of washing machines. Extraction performed by hand requires the use of an oar, this method allows for more delicate
fresh material but it is preferable not to exceed 2.5 kilograms so as not to overfill the bucket and have more space to maneuver the oar. To work with batches of marijuana less than a kilogram, it is preferable to use smaller buckets.
The duration of each wash cycle significantly affects the quality of the water hash, 6-stars extracts are generally not mixed in water for more than 15 minutes.
The number of washes depends on multiple factors, if the cycle lasts a few minutes, more washes will certainly be necessary to completely extract the resin from the marijuana inflorescences. Most strains need about 4 -5 cycles of 15 minutes each to collect all the resin.
PREPARATION
movements that avoid excessively shaking the marijuana inflorescences, preserving the resin.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
To obtain the ideal climate parameters, it may be necessary to install a dehumidifier and air conditioning equipped with a CoolBot, a device that transforms a common air conditioner into a machine similar to those used in cold storage rooms, capable of lowering the room temperature to a few °C.
Cold storage rooms are an excellent solution for obtaining a perfect climate. It is very important that the workplace is very clean so as not to contaminate the extraction.
TOOLS
To make fresh frozen water hash you will need the following tools and materials:
• 2 round plastic buckets of 100 liters
2 plastic buckets of 20 liters
• 120 liter Bubble Hash Bags kit
Freeze dryer
• Laser thermometer Electric pressure sprayer
• Spoon Glass
• Ice cubes for cocktails
• Reverse osmosis water
• Canoe paddle
• Non-stick baking paper
Bubble hash bags are bag-shaped sieves specifically designed for water hash extractions. The best ones are all-mesh ones that allow for rapid water evacuation. The complete set generally consists of nine bags and ranges from 25 microns to 220 microns. Using osmosis water to perform the extraction guarantees greater purity of the final product. The paddle should preferably have an aluminum handle and a rubberized plastic blade to avoid contamination. The best ice is cylindrical in shape, available at any supermarket.
WASHING PARAMETERS
In jargon, hashmakers use the term wash and its derivations to indicate the set of operations necessary for the extraction of water hash.
First of all, you need to establish the quantity of fresh and frozen marijuana to process, a 100-liter bucket can contain up to 3 kilograms of
In the following procedure, 2 kilograms of fresh and frozen marijuana inflorescences were used, while the amount of ice used during the entire process was approximately 14 kilograms. To carry out all the operations in the required time and in the correct manner, two people are needed.
The first step is to turn on the freeze dryer and prepare the trays by covering the surface with baking paper. Lightly wet the bubble bags to make them softer and easier to handle. Place the 220 micron bag inside one of the two 100-liter buckets so that it adheres to the walls, the edge of the bag that comes out must be folded outside the mouth of the bucket. Inside the
second bucket, the other bags will be placed in the following order: 45-90-140-160-190 micron. The 45 micron bag is the one that should be inserted into the bucket first and then all the others in the established order.
Fill the bucket with the 220 micron bag with osmotic water for about 1/3 of its volume and add 6 kilograms of ice inside to cool the water. To lower the temperature of the water to about 1-2 ° C it takes at least 20 minutes. Use the laser thermometer to check the temperature, when the water is cold enough add the marijuana to be washed inside and cover it with about 2 kilograms of ice. Close the 220 micron bag containing the ice and marijuana with a knot at the neck of the bag and immerse it completely in the water. A weight is needed to keep the bag immersed otherwise
Bags full of water hash waiting to be harvested
it will float. This pre-soaking phase lasts about 20 minutes and is necessary to prepare the glandular trichomes to detach cleanly from the marijuana flowers without releasing chlorophyll. In the meantime prepare the pressure sprayer with osmotic water and ice to keep it ready when needed. Once the pre-soaking is complete, open
and forth, with the paddle well immersed and without crushing the inflorescences against the walls. Be careful not to move the paddle too forcefully to avoid the plant matter from crumbling and releasing contaminants.
When the timer rings, it is time to stop and let the magic potion rest for 2 minutes so that the glandular trichomes collect on the bottom of the bucket. Then take out the 220 micron bag and let the water inside flow into the bucket. The bag can be placed in a smaller bucket until it is reused for the second wash. The remaining water in the 100-liter bucket should be poured through the bags placed inside the second bucket. Take out all the bags at once, the water filtered through the bags will remain inside the bucket and will be used for the second wash cycle. Place the 220 micron bag containing ice and marijuana back into the bucket filled with water and start stirring again with the paddle for another 10 minutes.
COLLECTION PHASE CYCLE N°1
properly. Immediately place the tray back inside the freeze dryer to begin the pre-cooling phase. Repeat the procedure with all the bags until you get to the 190 micron one.
CYCLE N°2 AND N°3
The second and third washes must be performed following the instructions of the first cycle exactly. Between one cycle and the other, collect the resin contained in each bag and place it in the freeze dryer as described for wash n°1.
FULL SPECTRUM
The last two washes are intended for the production of a lower quality, called full spectrum. The 90 micron bag is eliminated and the procedure is the same as for the other washes already performed. Increasing the force with which the material is mixed and the duration of the cycle up to a maximum of 20 minutes could favor the separation of the smaller glandular trichomes.
25 MICRON
Many hashmakers finish their work with the collection of the full spectrum but as a last step it is possible to recover even more resin left in the water used in the previous washes. Place the 25 micron bag inside the 100 liter bucket that is free and pour the water contained in the other bucket. Filter the water through the 25 micron bag and proceed with the collection.
FREEZE DRYER
the 220 micron bag, replace its edges around the bucket and start washing.
CYCLE #1
First, set a timer on your phone for the desired time, in this case 10 minutes. Using the paddle, start mixing the marijuana in the water, very delicately making alternating movements back
While the second wash is being performed, the resin contained in each bag obtained from the first cycle must be collected. Take one bag at a time out of the bucket, rinse its surface with the sprayer, keeping it raised from the others remaining in the bucket so that the water flows inside. Once this operation is finished, begin collecting the resin contained on the bottom of each bag, starting with the 45 micron bag. Place the bag back in the bucket and turn the edges, pulling them downwards so that the bag remains taut; with the sprayer, spray cold water on the internal surface of the bag to collect all the resin on the bottom and continue spraying without hesitation to eliminate any contaminating parts, a very important detail.
Using the spoon, take the resin collected on the bottom together with a small amount of water, transfer it to the freeze dryer trays and distribute it evenly over the entire surface so as to create a thin sheet that does not exceed 5 millimeters in thickness, otherwise it may not dry
Drying the water hash with the freeze dryer ensures that the glandular trichomes remain intact and separated, furthermore also the appearance and the organoleptic qualities are preserved considerably compared to air drying methods.
STORAGE
When the freeze dryer finishes the programmed cycle it is time to take out the water hash.
Place a sheet of baking paper on the table to have a clean surface, take the water hash from inside the freeze dryer, one at a time following the pre-established order, the sheets must be broken into small pieces and sieved on the baking paper with a fine mesh strainer to convert them into powder.
The powder deposited on the baking paper must be placed in glass jars and stored in the freezer until its use.
Without a shadow of a doubt the best quality is that contained in the 90 micron bag obtained from the first and second wash, here a real 6-stars water hash could be hidden. While the quality called full spectrum is more suitable for the production of excellent rosin.
In the next issue we will analyze some fundamental aspects regarding the post-harvest and the techniques for curing the water hash.
For more information about the freeze dryer you can consult the article ‘The Freeze Dryer’ published soon in Soft Secrets.
Macro photography of 6-stars water hash, Dulce de uva x Zkittlez
Photo courtesy of @highsession.bcn
Grow with Ed Rosenthal
Ed Rosenthal
Planting according to the moon: the Martyjuana garden
The goal of the Martyjuana garden is to provide organic marijuana grown in the sun and in small quantities, using the natural methods used to produce the best organic foods.
Each annual crop is grown using biodynamic methods, although the farm is not biodynamic certified. Planting and harvesting are done according to the cycles of the sun and moon, using systems that are sustainable from start to finish and operate with seasonal rhythmic flows. Martyjuana plants the seeds in spring and gathers the flowers around the fall harvest moon.
Seed lots are planted at each spring new moon, starting in March and ending in May or June. The dates fluctuate from year to year, depending on when the new moons fall, relative to the spring equinox.
Plants reveal their sex around the summer solstice and mature in time to be harvested on or around the full moon in September or October. Martyjuana believes that these are the elements that can never be exactly recreated with indoor growing, which mimics sunlight, but not the lunar phases that change every night. Martyjuana operates under the theory that the full spectrum of effects is most diverse when grown in full sun and under the moon and stars throughout the plant’s life cycle. There is a natural magic in allowing seeds to begin to grow along with the waxing moon, as well as harvesting on the full to waning moon.
Martyjuana’s methods have earned awards and accolades in the California marijuana industry. Martyjuana was the winner of the 2012 Sonoma County Cannabis Cup for Solvent-Free Concentrate (Hash) and was featured in the very popular Sonoma Magazine. Marty Clein, Byron Kohler, and the Martyjuana team are long-time advocates for reforming cannabis laws. Marty and Byron emerged from Northern California’s first medical marijuana markets in 2004 as Big B’s Martyjuana Farm, one of the first commercial medical marijuana farms to be legalized and regulated on a regional level. Since California legalized Cannabis for adult use in 2016, these traditional methods have made them a prominent craft marijuana farm in the region.
The farm sits on a pristine mountaintop in Covelo, California, a remote community in the Round Valley region of Mendocino County, the heart of the Emerald Triangle.
The orchard is 930 m2 (10,000 square feet). The finished dried buds are distributed
other regional brands that use them for pre-rolls, concentrates, edibles and other extracted products.
The plants are grown in living soil, in recycled redwood planters, and are only provided with nutrients through certified organic amendments. They are irrigated with water from an artisan well that is extracted on site.
“PLANTING AND HARVESTING ARE DONE ACCORDING TO THE CYCLES OF THE SUN AND MOON, USING SYSTEMS THAT ARE SUSTAINABLE FROM START TO FINISH AND OPERATE WITH SEASONAL RHYTHMIC FLOWS”
throughout the state in branded jars. The trimmings are marketed as white label to
The integrated pest management plan excludes the use of pesticides or any type of foreign spray or chemical. Instead, planting companion species creates an insectary of food and flowers. California
poppies, roses, lavender, chrysanthemums, tomatoes, zucchini, pumpkins and other plants suitable for bees and pollinators are grown around the marijuana garden. Beneficial predatory insects such as ladybugs, praying mantises, green lacewings and nematodes are released to combat pests such as aphids and mites.
The plants are grown from seeds and raised on the farm itself or on neighboring farms. The original seeds for Supreme, Northern Lights #4 and Super Skunk #1 were obtained through the Canadian Cannabis Culture Magazine around the year 2000. Over the years, Martyjuana has crossed a variety of cultivars through seed exchange with other farmers in the community. Preferred cultivars include old school kushes and OGs, as well as newer cultivars such as Skittles, Jelly Roll, and Gelato.
Almost all processing is done on site. The plants are harvested branch by branch as they mature and hung in the barn to dry and cure ready for long-term preservation and storage that protects the integrity of each flower.
Grow with Sweet Seeds
18
Sweet Seeds ® ’ 20th Anniversary with New Releases!
In 2025, Sweet Seeds® celebrates its 20th Anniversary under the motto “For 20 Years Growing Together,” paying tribute to cannabis growers worldwide. Since our first releases in 2005, featuring strains like the legendary Black Jack® (SWS01), the award-winning Cream Caramel® (SWS04) with 27 trophies to its name, or the delightful S.A.D. Sweet Afgani Delicious S1® (SWS02), we have worked tirelessly to offer our customers the best on the market.
Over the years, we have perfected our strains to ensure exceptional quality, with flavor, high yields, and outstanding germination rates as the hallmarks of our seed bank. Always at the forefront, we were pioneers with our F1 Fast Version® strains, allowing growers to harvest top-quality yields in record time. Not to mention the beauty of The Red Family® collection, with its stunning red and purple flowers, or the impressive stature of our XL autoflowering strains, which continue to demonstrate our commitment to excellence.
For this anniversary, we are proud to present six exceptional new strains that reflect the vitality and freshness of Sweet Seeds®. We begin with our most recent photoperioddependent creation, a strain we’ve completely fallen in love with: Monster Maker® (SWS117). This monstrous hybrid is the result of crossing two elite clones of American strains of the highest quality and worldwide acclaim: the ultra-resinous Chimera #3 and Permanent Marker, awarded „Strain of the Year“ by High Times in 2022 and by Leafly in 2023. The result is a highly potent hybrid with a complex aroma and flavor profile, exuding fresh notes with Diesel and soft earthy undertones. It’s ideal for high-quality extractions thanks to its dense layer of trichomes and terpene profile.
Following this path of excellence, another star in our lineup is Mental Rainbow F1 Fast Version® (SWS118). With a flowering time of just 7 to 8 weeks, this strain combines excellent yields with sweet, tropical fruit aromas. Its effects are intense and uplifting, with some specimens reaching up to 30% THC. This top-tier delight is the result of crossing Rainbow Sherbert #11 with Papaya Zoap Auto® (SWS107).
Now, let’s take a look at Sweet Seeds®’ new
autoflowering strains, highly popular among growers and perfect for expanding your collection.
In the autoflowering world, Diablo’s Delight XL Auto® (SWS113) stands out as a must-have option. This strain inherits its excellence from a true best-seller, the award-winning Diablo Rojo XL Auto® (SWS110), crowned Best New Autoflowering of 2024. It has been crossed with an elite clone of Watermelon OG, resulting in a vigorous, high-yielding strain. Its buds can
display an attractive reddish hue and deliver a tropical aroma with hints of watermelon, ripe fruits, and a touch of citrus. In just 8 weeks from germination, you can stock up on topquality flowers.
Pineapple Slush XL Auto® (SWS114) is another new gem in our collection. With a robust structure and buds covered in trichomes that ooze from every pore of its leaves and calyxes, this strain is the result of crossing Pineapple Express with Sweet Mandarine Zkittlez XL Auto®
genetic lines from Sweet Seeds®. Its buds overflow with resin on a highly vigorous structure, delivering flavors with touches of Sour Diesel and hints of citrus and menthol, offering a very complex and delicious aromatic spectrum.
Finally, we present a gem that can display reddish hues in the flowers of some specimens and stands out for its potency and intense aroma: Studio 54 Stardust Auto® (SWS116).
To create this strain, the best parent plants were selected—one originating from California (Studio 54), while the autoflowering genetics come directly from one of the finest autos in our seed bank, Red Strawberry Banana Auto® (SWS90). A significant selection effort went into ensuring both strains retained their distinct characteristics while offering exquisite, sweet, fruity flavors reminiscent of banana and mango. Its Indica effect is very balanced and clear-headed.
For the most enthusiastic growers, we’ve also launched our 25-seed Packs. Additionally, as a special celebration for this anniversary, we’re introducing the 20th Anniversary Special Mix Packs with 4 seeds for just €25. These packs feature an exclusive selection of our 2025 new releases. Don’t wait too long—they’ll only be available for a limited time!
Here’s to another 20 Years Growing Together— thank you, and sweet harvests!
Let’s keep growing together and reaching new heights!
The Sweet Seeds® Team
(SWS102). It offers intensely fruity and fresh aromas, delivering a burst of tropical and citrus flavors reminiscent of pineapple and mandarin. Its effects are balanced and creative, making it an ideal choice for social gatherings.
Another powerhouse packed with THC is the brand-new Permanent Jealousy XL Auto® (SWS115). This American time bomb, created by crossing Permanent Marker with Jealousy Z XL Auto® (SWS108), once again showcases the outstanding quality of the autoflowering
Cannabis History
Text and photos: Derrick Bergman / Gonzo Media
Who betrayed Nevil Schoenmakers, the ‘King of Cannabis’?
About six years ago, Nevil Schoenmakers, the man who played a key role in the Dutch cannabis revolution and was crowned King of Cannabis by High Times, passed away. Nevil probably never knew who betrayed him to the American DEA. But this Anthony Ray Cogo is still active in the cannabis world.
Many cannabis enthusiasts are familiar with Nevil’s Haze. The man who gave his name to this strain, Nevil Schoenmakers (1957-2019), was a legend in his lifetime. Born in Australia to Dutch parents, he fled to Thailand in the
late 1970s, heavily addicted to heroin, and then to the Netherlands. He lived for a while with an uncle in Tilburg, where heroin was very easy to get at the time. In 1980, Nevil managed to quit and came across a book on
cannabis cultivation written by Ed Rosenthal and Mel Frank.
Nevil had already grown outdoor weed in Australia and it went very well. In Tilburg,
he started growing indoors. At first, he made hash oil from his plants, but after a fire, he stopped this activity. He devoted himself entirely to seed production, after he discovered it was legal in the Netherlands. He even applied for a loan from a recovery program for drug addicts, he said in the 1987 High Times article that made him famous:
“I told them I wanted to grow cannabis indoors. They weren’t really keen on the idea, but they gave me the money anyway. There was a vacant lot behind my apartment, I filled it up completely with plants. I had Nigerian, Colombian and Mexican seeds. The Mexican ones were the best, I still have some.”
The first catalogue for his company, The Seed Bank of Holland, was published in 1984. If you could call those few black and white A4 pages a catalogue. Around that time, Nevil crossed paths with David Watson, aka Sam the Skunkman. The American
THE “KING OF CANNABIS” REMAINED UNDER THE RADAR FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE, DYING OF CANCER IN 2019 AT THE AGE OF 62.
cannabis pioneer had fled California for the Netherlands with tens of thousands of seeds from the Sacred Seed Bank he founded, including his own creation, Skunk #1.
No other strain has had as profound an influence on modern cannabis as Skunk #1. But Sam brought even more: the original Haze from the Haze Brothers of Santa Cruz, the Afghan #1 and Durban Poison he got from Mel Frank, and his own Hindu Kush. Nevil would sell these fabulous genetics through The Seed Bank of Holland, with a commission for Sam the Skunkman. And he had the nerve to publish a permanent insert in High Times, with the address of a Dutch PO Box.
Until the advent of the internet, this American monthly magazine was one of the most important sources of information for cannabis growers in the United States and beyond. Seed Bank’s small advertisement proved to be a masterstroke. Readers sent envelopes containing cash and orders
Nevil in the days of ‘Seed Bank of Holland’
poured in. Within a few years, Nevil went from homeless junkie to wealthy owner of a 19th-century country house in Lent, near Nijmegen: the Cannabis Castle.
High Times editor Steve Hager visited Lent in 1986 and wrote a wonderful profile of Nevil, Inside Cannabis Castle: The Incredible Story of the Man Who Would be King of Cannabis. In it, he describes the daily flow of letters containing “dollars wrapped in carbon paper to avoid detection.” The money was intended for cannabis seeds. These are not your average cannabis seeds, but the most potent seeds on the market, seeds that grow into giant, resin-dripping buds, seeds that cost between $2 and $5 each. Nevil stocks American classics like Northern Lights, Big Bud, and Hash Plant. He travels to Hungary and Afghanistan to collect seeds and makes his own crosses, including the fabulous Northern Lights 5 x Haze.
In an article published shortly after Nevil’s death, American activist, grower, and author Todd McCormick wrote:
“I see Nevil as a great artist; Pablo Picasso didn’t invent red, blue and green, it was his combination of these colours that we all enjoy. The art of plant breeding is similar. Nevil took the primary strains of Northern Lights and Haze and didn’t just cross them and that was it. Nevil numbered each male and female plant and tested the crosses to see which of the two plants produced the best hybrids. No one has ever heard of Northern Lights 1, 2, 3 or 4 x Haze A, B or C, but he crossed them all and discovered that Northern Lights number 5 x Haze A was the best. Unfortunately, most people who started breeding after him are not like Nevil. (…) He really took the time to breed and not just produce seeds.”
In 1990, Nevil was charged in the state of Louisiana with selling cannabis seeds to American citizens. The charge was based on the testimony of an informant who grew cannabis himself. He had come into contact with Nevil in 1986, after ordering seeds from
January 26, 1994, Cogo stated: “Through a combination of phone calls and letters, we gradually developed a friendly relationship.”
Nevil invited Cogo to the Netherlands, picked him up at Schiphol Airport and drove him to the Cannabis Castle in Lent. “While I was at Schoenmakers, he showed me his cannabis operation in his house,” he explains of that first visit to Cannabis Castle.
him. His name was Anthony Ray Cogo, born on October 20, 1957 in Detroit, Michigan. He was therefore about the same age as Nevil. Cogo had called the telephone number listed in The Seed Bank’s catalogue several times. In his statement to the DEA, dated
More trips followed, Cogo’s wife also traveling with them during Lent. Nevil revealed his system for getting the seeds safely to American customers. From the Netherlands, he sent postal packages containing various food products to
distributors in the United States. The soup cans were filled with seeds, wrapped in lead, invisible to customs. The distributors repackaged the seeds and shipped them to the customers. They received the orders in coded language by letter or fax.
In 1988, Cogo became one of the secret distributors for the Michigan-based Seed Bank. He would sell plant nutrients based on the Seed Bank recipe as part of a deal with Nevil. All went well until Cogo was arrested in March 1989 for growing marijuana. He was sentenced to six months in prison. At Mrs. Cogo’s request, Nevil loaned the couple $30,000 for legal fees. At the time, the DEA was not yet aware of Cogo’s relationship with Nevil and The Seed Bank. Everything changed when Cogo learned, while on remand, that his distributor had stolen the fertilizer recipe and wanted to continue without him.
It’s hard to say exactly what was going on in his head, but Ray Cogo decided to talk to the DEA. He explained how the Seed Bank worked and gave the agents thousands of customer addresses, even though he promised Nevil he would destroy them after each shipment. “It is virtually impossible to determine,” writes Todd McCormick, “how many people the DEA raided from the more than 11,000 addresses Cogo provided.”
This list was the DEA’s dream, which launched Operation Green Merchant in October 1989, in which more than 1,200 people were arrested and nearly a thousand nurseries were dismantled. Nevil would be arrested on July 24, 1990, in Australia, where
he was visiting family. He would be held for 11 months pending extradition to the United States. While in prison he sold The Seed Bank and the Cannabis Castle to Ben Dronkers of Sensi Seeds.
The “King of Cannabis” remained under the radar for the rest of his life, dying of cancer in 2019 at the age of 62. That same year, Todd McCormick corrected someone who claimed on Instagram that Nevil had been betrayed by Sam the Skunkman. Todd, who lived in the Netherlands in the mid-1990s, knows both men well and says Sam is definitely not the traitor. Todd didn’t know who that was. That person requested Nevil’s verdict and accompanying witness statements through Pacer.gov. It’s in black and white: Anthony Ray Cogo betrayed him.
He emailed these documents to McCormick, who then forwarded them to me. It cost $29.60, he wrote. “For less than $30, the solution to the whole mystery behind Nevil and Operation Green Merchant landed in my mailbox. What’s also crazy is that this guy, Anthony Ray Cogo, is still selling his fertilizers and bragging about how he got the recipe to the Netherlands between 1986 and 1989!”
And that is still the case today, in 2025. On www.cogosoriginalcannabisformula.com we can read: “Ray Cogo visited the Netherlands from 1986 to 1989. There he collected recipes for cannabis and flowers from professional growers, then returned to the United States.” One wonders how some people can still look at themselves in the mirror.
With thanks to Todd McCormick.
Nevil in Afghanistan, sometime in the 80s
Nevil in later life
meaning it transitions directly from a solid to a vapor without passing through a liquid phase. Essentially, the moisture evaporates straight from the plant.
Cannabis flowers dried by this method retain almost the same appearance and color as when freshly harvested. The buds look as if they were just clipped from the plant, but without water content, they become extremely lightweight. Some people appreciate this aesthetic, while others prefer the traditional look of air-dried cannabis.
Advantages of Freeze-Drying Cannabis are: 1) Preservation of cannabinoids and terpenes – Lyophilization prevents degradation and evaporation, resulting in enhanced aroma and potency. 2) Significantly faster process – The
entire drying and curing phase is completed in just 48 hours. 3) Chlorophyll degradation occurs rapidly, eliminating the harsh taste associated with freshly dried cannabis. In conventional drying methods, chlorophyll breaks down over several weeks. 4) Minimal risk of mold or microbial contamination due to the absence of free moisture during the process.
While freeze-dried cannabis offers many benefits, its texture and appearance may not appeal to all users, as many prefer the dense structure of traditionally dried buds. However, for commercial producers looking to optimize terpene retention and efficiency, lyophilization presents an exciting alternative.
In addition to the necessary equipment, some technical knowledge is required for successful
lyophilization. For example, it is ideal to freeze-dry buds of similar size simultaneously to ensure even drying. Another challenge is that it is relatively easy to over-dry the flowers, reducing the moisture content below 5%, whereas the optimal moisture content in dried cannabis flowers is around 10–12%.
A lower moisture content means lighter buds, which is not desirable in commercial operations, as weight reduction directly affects profitability. Additionally, overly dry buds tend to become more brittle, making them prone to crumbling during handling. However, overdried buds can be rehydrated using two-way humidity control packs, such as Boveda. On the other hand, if your goal is to extract cannabinoids using CO2, ethanol, or butane, a low moisture content is actually an advantage, as freeze-dried cannabis is ideal for producing high-quality extracts. If you are considering experimenting with lyophilization, I strongly recommend investing in a professional-grade freeze dryer and obtaining as much practical advice as possible from the manufacturer or supplier to optimize your drying process.
Controlled Atmosphere Drying
Another method aimed at preserving the highest possible terpene and cannabinoid content in cannabis is controlled atmosphere drying. This approach involves not only monitoring and maintaining the proper temperature (12–18°C / 54–64°F) and relative humidity (55–65%), but also reducing the oxygen con-
centration in the drying environment to 2–10%, compared to the normal atmospheric level of approximately 21%.
I recently came across a study in the scientific journal Plants, in which researchers dried cannabis in an atmosphere containing 5% CO2, 5% O2, and 90% N2. The low oxygen levels and high nitrogen content reduced oxidation of cannabinoids and terpenes, while limited oxygen availability and increased CO2 levels inhibited mold and bacterial growth.
In these controlled conditions, cannabis dried at 15°C (59°F) reached its optimal moisture content in just six days, whereas cannabis dried at the same temperature under normal atmospheric conditions (0.04% CO2, 21% O2 and 78% N2) took two weeks to reach a 10% moisture content.
Benefits of Controlled Atmosphere Drying are: 1) Significantly shorter drying time compared to traditional methods. 2) Higher retention of terpenes and cannabinoids due to reduced oxidation. 3) Reduced risk of mold and bacterial contamination. However, the effectiveness of this method varies depending on the strain. The authors of the study concluded that different cultivars may respond differently to controlled atmosphere conditions.
No matter which drying method you choose, I wish you success in your process and hope you get the maximum benefit from your harvest!
Well air-dried cannabis.
Freeze-dried cannabis retains a shape and structure similar to freshly harvested buds while preserving a high content of cannabinoids and terpenes.
Grow with Jorge Cervantes
Jorge Cervantes jorge@marijuanagrowing.com
GAS-UP WITH VOLATILE SULPHUR COMPOUNDS
UNLOCKING THE SKUNK: THE ROLE OF VOLATILE SULPHUR COMPOUNDS IN CANNABIS' AROMA AND POTENTIAL
Cannabis plants are renowned for their complex aromatic profiles, which range from fruity and floral to earthy and pungent. While terpenes have long been celebrated as the primary contributors to these scents, recent scientific advancements have uncovered another class of chemicals responsible for the infamous, often polarizing skunky odor that defines many cannabis strains. These chemicals, volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs), have added a new layer of complexity to cannabis' aromatic character and may even influence its medicinal properties. Let’s dive into the chemistry of VSCs, how they form in cannabis plants, and how growers can harness their potential to shape both fragrance and therapeutic effects.
THE CHEMISTRY OF SKUNK: WHAT ARE VSCS?
Volatile sulphur compounds are organic molecules that contain sulphur atoms. These compounds have a key characteristic: they evaporate easily into the atmosphere, releasing pungent and distinctive odors. VSCs are primarily responsible for cannabis' characteristic skunky aroma, which has often been associated with a sense of potency, though this connection is not universally appreciated. They belong to two main categories of chemicals: thiols (or mercaptans) and sulfides/disulfides.
One of the most infamous VSCs in cannabis is 3-methyl-2-butene-1-thiol (VSC3), the compound that produces that distinctive "gasoline-meets-skunk" scent. This compound has structural similarities with chemicals found in garlic and hops, and its intense odor profile makes it a primary contributor to cannabis' unmistakable fragrance.
Beyond VSC3, cannabis produces several other types of VSCs that contribute to a range of additional aromas, from earthy and musky to tropical and citrusy. Some of these VSCs include:
• Diprenyl disulphide and diprenyl sulphide which introduce alliaceous (garlicky) and sulfuric undertones.
• Prenylthiol and prenylthioacetate, which contribute to the classic skunky smell.
• 3-mercaptohexanol (3MH), which imparts tropical and citrus-like notes to the plant’s aroma.
Although VSCs represent less than 0.05% of cannabis' chemical composition, their potency and low odor threshold make them highly impactful on the fragrance profile. Even in small concentrations, these compounds dominate the sensory experience.
FROM SOIL TO SCENT:
HOW VSCS DEVELOP IN CANNABIS
The formation of VSCs begins deep in the soil. Cannabis absorbs sulphur from the ground, which is then converted into amino acids and other metabolites within the plant. As the plant matures, especially during the late flowering stages, these sulfur-containing compounds undergo enzymatic and oxidative transformations into volatile thiols and sulfides—key contributors to the final scent.
The peak production of VSCs typically occurs during the plant's post-harvest curing phase. After cannabis is harvested, the curing process continues to break down these sulfur-containing compounds into their volatile forms, with concentrations peaking around 10–14 days post-harvest. During this time, the plant’s chemical composition stabilizes, and VSCs
reach their highest levels, solidifying the plant's characteristic aroma.
Several factors influence the development of VSCs in cannabis, including:
• Soil Composition: Cannabis strains grown in sulfur-rich soils tend to produce more VSCs, leading to stronger and more pronounced aromas.
• Genetics: Some cannabis cultivars, such as Chemdog and Skunk #1, are predisposed to produce higher levels of VSCs, making them ideal choices for growers aiming for that pungent, skunky scent.
• Curing Practices : To maximize VSC retention, slow drying at a humidity level of 60-70% is recommended. Excessive light and oxygen exposure during this phase can degrade these volatile compounds, reducing the final aroma.
For growers, understanding how to preserve and enhance VSCs is crucial. Factors like maintaining proper humidity, temperature, and airflow during both the flowering and curing phases can help retain these potent compounds. Proper post-harvest storage in sealed containers with controlled humidity levels (58-62% RH) is also essential to prevent degradation.
BEYOND AROMA: THE MEDICINAL AND SENSORY IMPACT OF VSCS
While VSCs are best known for their role in cannabis aroma, recent studies have suggested they may also have therapeutic benefits. Some VSCs, such as prenylated thiols, are believed to possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, similar to those found in garlic. These properties could enhance the overall medicinal potential of cannabis,
Skunk #1, bred by Dave Watson, “AKA Sam the Skunkman” who was y ears ahead of his time.
offering more than just a sensory experience for consumers.
For instance, it is suggested that these compounds might interact with the transient receptor potential (TRP) channels in mammals. TRP channels are responsible for various sensory processes in the body, including responses to heat, cold, stress, and pain. By influencing these channels, VSCs may play a role in modulating the body’s response to cannabis, potentially improving its therapeutic effects.
From a sensory perspective, the presence of VSCs can also shape the flavor and texture of cannabis. High-VSC strains often exhibit earthy, musky, or even garlicky flavors, which add depth to the overall experience. However, the skunky scent produced by VSCs can be polarizing—while some cannabis consumers equate the pungent aroma with potency, others find it less appealing.
Breeders are increasingly exploring the use of VSC profiles to create specific strain characteristics. For example, certain breeders may aim to produce cannabis strains that have a more tropical fruit profile by minimizing skunky VSCs, while others might embrace and enhance the pungent, skunky qualities for a more robust aroma.
CULTIVATION TIPS FOR MAXIMIZING VSCS
If you’re a grower looking to increase VSC
production in your cannabis garden, there are several strategies you can employ:
1. Strain Selection: Choose cultivars known for their high VSC expression, such as OG Kush or Durban Poison. These strains are often rich in sulphur-containing compounds and produce a strong, skunky aroma.
2. Nutrient Management: Ensure that your plants receive an adequate supply of sulfur, a crucial building block for VSC production. Supplements like Epsom salts can provide the necessary sulfur during flowering.
3. Curing Techniques: To preserve VSCs, hang your plants upside-down in dark, cool conditions (18-21°C) for 10–14 days. This slow curing process helps maintain the integrity of these volatile compounds.
4. Minimize Handling: Handle the plants gently during trimming. Rough handling can rupture trichomes and accelerate the breakdown of VSCs.
THE FUTURE OF CANNABIS AROMATICS
The discovery of volatile sulphur compounds has transformed our understanding of cannabis chemistry. VSCs are no longer viewed merely as unpleasant odors but as integral components of the plant’s aromatic complexity. As cannabis legalization expands and more research is conducted, these compounds may open up new opportunities
for breeding, product development, and even medicinal applications.
For growers and consumers alike, VSCs offer a
a more fruity, tropical hybrid, understanding the role of VSCs in cannabis production is key to shaping the future of this complex and multifaceted plant. So, the next time you light up a
joint, take a moment to savor the molecules at work and appreciate the complexity of the aroma—a perfect blend of science, art, and nature.
fascinating glimpse into the intricate world of cannabis aromatics. Whether you're cultivating that classic skunky scent or working to create
A mix of sulfur-rich soil promots more VSCs.
Suplimental Epsom salts fertilization ensures adequate sulphur to build more VSCs.
VSC-packed Skunk strains ready to consume.
Open the lid to drying containers to “burp” the stale air out. Burping helps preserve VSCs.
Text: Derrick Bergman / Gonzo Media
CELEBRITIES AND THEIR CANNABUSINESS
It is no longer just hip-hop stars who link their names to a cannabis brand. Actors, boxers and guitarists are also trying to profit from the legal cannabis industry. Only in the United States for the time being.
Canadian cannabis law prohibits the promotion of cannabis. In the Netherlands, any form of advertising for coffee shops or cannabis has always been prohibited. Advertising is also banned in the three European countries that have decriminalized cannabis, Malta, Luxembourg and Germany.
However, the more than 20 US states where recreational cannabis is legal have much less strict regulations on advertising. In the past ten years, dozens of cannabis brands have been launched in America around or by celebrities. Soft Secrets highlights a small selection.
KHALIFA KUSH ENTERPRISES
Founded in California in 2015 by rapper Whiz Khalifa, available in nine states and number one in the top 15 celebrity cannabis brands 2024 of website Celebstoner.com. Khalifa Kush sales are estimated at between forty and fifty million
TYSON 2.0
When it comes to scoring free publicity, former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson is knocking out the competition. The Tyson 2.0 edibles in the shape of an ear with a bite out of it became a worldwide hype. Tyson has been a cannabis entrepreneur since 2021.
WILLIE‘S RESERVE
Country icon and cannabis activist Wille Nelson (91), like Whiz Kalifa and Snoop Dogg, was there early; In 2015, he started Willie‘s Reserve in Colorado, one of the first two states to make recreational cannabis legal that year. Sustainability is of paramount importance in the production of Willie‘s Reserve weed, vape cartridges and prerolled joints. Available in twelve states.
dollars per year. On March 7, the company will launch its newest strain, Point Breeze, named after the Pittsburgh neighborhood where Whiz grew up and where Khalifa Kush is still headquartered.
MIRAYO SANTANA
Legendary guitarist Carlos Santana launched his own cannabis brand in 2020. Santana has partnered with Left Coast Ventures, a company that previously launched Marley Natural and other cannabis brands with world-renowned musicians. The first three Mirayo varieties were called Radiance, Symmetry and Centered.
CHEECH & CHONG’S CANNABIS CO.
BELUSHI‘S FARM
Jim Belushi, the younger brother of the late comedian John Belushi, started a modest cannabis farm on his estate in southern Oregon in 2015. Belushi‘s Farm was the subject of the series Growing Belushi, broadcast by the Discovery Channel. The series premiered in 2020 and was also shown in Europe. It will not be surprising that The Blues Brothers is one of the brand names. The brand name Good Ugly Weed is more original.
CAVIAR GOLD
Jay and Silent Bob, who doesn‘t know them? These stoned antiheroes first appeared in the low budget film classic Clerks from 1994. Of course, this fictional duo has its own cannabis brand: Snoogans, one of the typical Jay words. Caviar Gold is also the exclusive producer and distributor of Fryday Kush, the cannabis brand of rapper Ice Cube. Available in seven US states and Canada.
They are slightly younger than Willie Nelson, but actors Cheech Marin (78) and Tommy Chong (86) also enjoy iconic status in global cannabis culture. Cheech & Chong’s Cannabis Co. was founded in 2020 and includes multiple brands, including Cheech’s Stash and Tommy Chong’s Cannabis. The company has six cannabis stores in three states under the name Cheech & Chong’s Dispensoria.
DEATH ROW CANNABIS
Snoop Dogg has multiple collaborations and cannabis brands to his name, starting with Leafs by Snoop with Canopy Growth in 2015. Death Row Cannabis, named after the record label where the rapper started his career, is the most recent. Snoop opened a cannabis shop in Los Angeles in 2024 under the name SWED, or Smoke Weed Every Day, and a coffee shop with the same name in Amsterdam.
to bigger-sized pots is more advantageous, than planting directly into a large-sized container.
Planting cannabis seeds directly into a soil bed or 50-100 litre fabric or plastic can have its advantages, however, working with small-sized pots between 3–5 litres can be a great starting point for a beginner grower and allow them to keep an eye on and control of root development and watering frequency.
What Nutrients to Use
The easiest way to keep your plants happy and give them access to the perfect balance of nutrients and minerals is by using a fertile soil blend and feeding them plain water. As your seedlings begin to develop and become bigger and bushy as the months pass by, you should consider feeding them some type of liquid nutrients that encourage microbial activity and produce a thriving soil food web. Using a molasses-based liquid feed, or fish emulsion, can be an excellent solution and provide the ideal balance of nutrition and improve soil quality.
Insects and Pests
There is no worse feeling than going to your outdoor grow space to find that at night, insects have eaten or butchered your seedlings causing irreversible damage. Oftentimes, you will have no control over insect damage and if you are working on a strict budget, can be set back months. A great way to combat pests from wiping out your seedlings is to take the pots inside at nighttime, keeping them as safe and well-protected as possible.
Security Issues
Even though you may not think a patch of autos or photoperiod seedlings is doing any harm
to anyone, you have to be careful and consider nosey neighbours, cats, and birds. You must do your best to keep your outdoor cannabis crop as secure and safe as can be, so do all the relevant checks and make sure your outdoor grow space is secure and well-hidden.
Greenhouses
If you have the luxury of starting your seedlings off inside a glass greenhouse, then you will certainly have peace of mind that they are safe from insects, cold winds, and rainfall. Small-sized greenhouses that are made from plastic can serve as a great way of protecting your vulnerable seedlings and are inexpensive.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When
Planting Outdoors This Spring Time
Learning from your mistakes is often the best way to become a well-versed outdoor farmer, but during the seedling stage, too many mistakes can set you back massively and put an end to your outdoor grow. Below are 6 common mistakes to avoid that can save you from learning the hard way.
1. Buying the cheapest soil possible
To get your outdoor project started as quickly as possible, one common mistake is to buy soil from your local garden centre with the intention of spending as little money as possible. As a result, the quality of the soil is below par when it comes to aeration, drainage, and nutrients.
2. Planting directly into the ground early
If you have never grown outdoors before, then it is easy to assume that once your seeds are in the dirt, they will become 6-foot monsters in no time. This could not be further from the truth, and in fact, can even cause seedlings
seedlings to become cold and not grow to their full potential, and can also affect nutrient uptake and plant vitality.
5. Small sized autos
Autos require a solid start for the first 4 weeks after germination. Feminized autos given a poor start in life will result in small and undesirable plants around 30 cm in height, which will be a total waste of time, money, and nutrients.
Top Tips for Planting Outdoors During Springtime
Over the years, I have learned firsthand what works and does not work as an outdoor grower. Below are 5 tips that I have picked up along the way, so you can have an advantage and give your outdoor cannabis crop the best start in life.
1. Work with resilient and reliable genetics
Not all outdoor cannabis seeds will be well suited for the great outdoors, and when it comes to cold and harsh climates such as Northern Europe, a great tip is to work with resilient plants. Indica photoperiod and indica-dominant autos will have the best chances of enduring the most challenging weather in comparison to a lanky sativa.
2. Perpetual harvests using feminized autos
The beauty of planting fast flowering autos is that under the right circumstances, perpetual harvests will be an option and can allow you to harvest multiple times between Spring and Summer. A tip is to find the fastest flowering auto genetics and to have each crop harvested within 75-90 days.
3. Keep an eye out for insect damage
to suffer a great amount of stress, and make it difficult for the plant’s roots to fully establish themselves resulting in small, stunted, and nutrient deficient stressed seedlings.
3. Overwatering your seedlings
When starting seedlings in pots, be careful not to overwater them, as an oversaturated growing medium can cause roots to become
COLD AND HARSH WINDS MAY CAUSE SEEDLINGS TO BECOME STRESSED, AND TRANSPIRE MOISTURE OUT FROM THE FOLIAGE.
wet, and soggy and suffer from cold temperatures. This is especially true when watering with a hose pipe or watering can.
4. Growing in a shaded area
A south-facing location will always be the best option and provide your outdoor plants with the most amount of sunlight as the months progress. Shaded areas will cause
It is essential to inspect your cannabis seedlings every day and check for insect damage. Thrips, snails, and slugs can cause the foliage to become severely damaged and set you back. A tip is to check the tops and undersides of the leaves and look for insect bite marks, eggs, and powdery mildew.
4. Protect the seedlings from the wind Cold and harsh winds may cause seedlings to become stressed, and transpire moisture out from the foliage. The easiest way to combat this threat is to build a windbreaker around your growing area, and then bring the pots inside your house at night, or place them inside a secure greenhouse until the next morning.
5. Support your seeds with bamboo canes
One easy way to help support your seedlings and allow the stems and side branches to develop into hard and strong plants is to use a thin bamboo cane and secure it with gardening wire. You will only need to insert a thin cane into the pots or soil beds.
Avoid Using Regular Sexed Cannabis Seeds
Male plants will not flower and produce buds, will take up too much room, and then can run the risk of pollination your entire crop. A great tip for firsttime growers is to select only feminized seeds, as then you can maximize your chosen grow space and prevent unintentionally pollinating your crop as you approach the end of the Summer months.
My Final Thoughts
By following the guide above, you will be well on your way to success and should face very few problems along the way. Remember cannabis seedlings are delicate and are vulnerable to cold temperatures, strong winds, rain, and insects and animals!
A perfect example of healthy and vibrant feminized cannabis plants. Outdoor plants have the potential to become huge and yield large amounts.
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A word from the publisher: World wide there is a process going on of relative liberalisation towards the use of cannabis, be it for medicinal or recreational purposes. Several countries legalised cannabis as a way of separating soft and hard drugs, as it has proven to do in Holland. Other countries legalised the use of medicinal cannabis, including the right to grow cannabis plants for one’s own use. The publisher wants to highlight the process of normalisation of cannabis use. This assumes that the publisher does not necessarily agree with everything that appears in articles and advertisements. The publisher therefore distances himself explicitly from published statements or images that might give the impression that an endorsement is being made for the use and/or production of cannabis.
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